USA host Australia in the second round of games in World Cup Group D in Seattle, with both sides knowing a win would all but secure a place in the last 32. The co-hosts come into the game off the back of a statement win over Paraguay in their opener, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be without talisman Christian Pulisic due to injury. The winger picked up a calf injury during the 4-1 win, and has been unable to recover in time. “I hope as soon as possible he can be ready to be selected again and to be part of the team,” said Pochettino, who confirmed Pulisic trained this morning. “Now, we need to be focused on our team and the players that are going to play.”Meanwhile, Australia put in a statement performance of their own in an opening win over Turkey, with goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe putting the Socceroos on the verge of the knockout rounds this summer.Follow all the action from Seattle below, with kick-off set for 12pm local time (8pm BST): USA v Australia team news: No Pulisic, Socceroos bench both scorers! The enforced absence of Christian Pulisic means Mauricio Pochettino makes just one change from the opening 4-1 win over Paraguay, with Ricardo Pepi starting on the left wing. Australia make two changes, removing both of their scorers from the 2-0 win over Turkey! Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe are replaced by Nishan Velupillay and Mathew Leckie. That’s a bold choice. USA XI: Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream, Robinson; Adams, Tillman; Dest, McKennie, Pepi; Balogun.Australia XI: Beach; Italiano, Circati, Souttar, Burgess, Bos; O’Neill, Okon-Engstler, Leckie, Toure; Velupillay.Jamie Braidwood19 June 2026 18:49Mauricio Pochettino confirms Christian Pulisic's absence vs Australia Mauricio Pochettino confirmed that Pulisic is unavailable during an interview with Fox Sports, but sounded optimistic that he’ll be back soon... “The evolution is [going] really well. Today he was training in the morning in the camp and I’ve seen the feelings are good. “I hope as soon as possible he can be ready to be selected again and to be part of the team. Now, we need to be focused on our team and the players that are going to play.“We have ahead a very important game and Australia is going to be really tough. [But] a little bit sad because he wanted to stay, he wanted to participate today.”(Getty)Jamie Braidwood19 June 2026 18:41Christian Pulisic ruled out of USA v Australia Christian Pulisic is out of the USA’s World Cup clash with Australia due to the calf injury picked up during the win against Paraguay. That’s a huge blow for the co-hosts, given how well Pulisic played in their opening 4-1 win. Ricardo Pepi starts in his place. Full team news to comeChristian Pulisic of the U.S. arrives at the stadium before the match (Reuters)Jamie Braidwood19 June 2026 18:33World Cup 2026 power rankings: England, Argentina and France make statements after round oneEvery team has now played their opening match of the 2026 World Cup - how do they rank?Will Castle19 June 2026 18:28USA call for noise ahead of facing Australia in Seattle "I fully expect this crowd to be extremely loud. And, they’re going to energise our group," said USA midfielder Cristian Roldan, having played for the Seattle Sounders since 2015. "This is one of the loudest stadiums in the world when you think about Seahawks games or Sounders games.Just seeing the Belgium game against Egypt and how the atmosphere was there, I fully expect the city of Seattle to come out and show out, and I think the guys are going to feel that type of energy."(Getty)Jamie Braidwood19 June 2026 18:14Socceroos’ breakthrough has come at the right time for fractious AustraliaWhen Nestory Irankunda made a beeline for the corner flag after putting Australia in front against Turkey last Saturday, everyone knew who he was paying tribute to. Twenty years on, Australia are still trying to replicate the magic of Tim Cahill guiding them towards the last-16 in Germany.The sight of Cahill bobbing and weaving around the flag after the Socceroos’ first World Cup goal against Japan in 2006 remains a defining image in their history, so Irankunda thought it right to pay tribute to his “biggest inspiration” after the moment of his nascent career to date.“I look up to him and I want to be like him one day,” the Watford winger said afterwards, instantly winning the hearts of many casual fans back home. But if they appear overly committed towards nods to the past, this was equally a breakout party for a team that are determined to far exceed low external expectations at World Cup 2026 - and simultaneously become central to a depressingly familiar political discourse.Alan Smith19 June 2026 18:00Australia boss insists improvement needed against USAIt was an excellent execution of the plan from Australia against Turkey, but manager Tony Popovic has warned his side that they will have to be better today."We know it will be a different type of challenge," he said. "Playing the host nation here ‌as well is a wonderful challenge, but ‌also a wonderful opportunity for us."We know that we will need to be better than we were against Turkey to get the result we want. We want to earn our respect. We know that by our performances we can put Australian football on the world map and that's what we aim to do." (Getty)Harry Latham-Coyle19 June 2026 17:50The bold selection gamble that paid off for Australia in shock World Cup win over TurkeyAustralia’s selection will be interesting today. Patrick Beach was a surprise starter in goal against Turkey, but looks set to keep his place after making a number of fine saves to help the Socceroos to victory.Harry Latham-Coyle19 June 2026 17:40‘We need to play on the edge:’ Pochettino sounds warning as USMNT prepares for fiery Australia showdownMauricio Pochettino has issued a strong word of warning to his side ahead of a key clash for the USMNT.Harry Latham-Coyle19 June 2026 17:25Harry Latham-Coyle19 June 2026 17:10